Floating submarine mine.



' J. G. LINDMARK.

FLOATING SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14,1914.

1,120,621. Patented Dec.8,1914.

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JOHN GUNNAR LINDMAB/K, OF ESKILSTUNA, SWEDEN, ASSIGNQIP TO ESKILSTU-NA STALPRESSNINGS AK'IIEBOLAG, 0F ESKILSTUNA, SWEDEN.

FLOATING SUBMAR-INE MINE.

Application filed August 14,1914. Serial No. 856,837.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN.GUNNAR LIND- imnn, a subject of the King of Sweden, and a citizen of Sweden, residing at Eskilstuna, in the Kingdom of Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floating Submarine Mines, of which the.

following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to improvements in torpedo mines, driving mines and other similar submarine bodies and has for its object to give them a periodical up'and-down movement in the sea and thus keep them floating at a desired middling depth below the water surface,

until after a determinated period of time,

the mine sinks to the bottom of. the sea and thus becomes in'ofi'ensive. Said periodical up-and-down movement is effected by alter.- ing the displacement of the submarine body (the mine). The alteration is caused'by means of a periodical taking-in of water and letting-out the same from a vessel placed within the mine. The inand outlet is controlled by a hydrostatic device and is efiected by means of compressed air'or some other gas. The air or the gas is stored in a suitable pressure vessel and periodically supplied to the vessel within the. mine, the so called regulating vessel, whereby water is expelled or supplied to the said vessel.

The present invention has now for its object to control the admission of air or gas at each deep-swinging, so that always a predetermined gas volume be supplied tothe regulating vessel, and is chiefly characterized thereby, that between the pressureand regulating vessel is-inserted an intermediate vessel, by which the volume of air or gas to be supplied to the regulating vessel is determined.

A form of execution of the invention is illustrated on the annexed drawing, where Figure 1 as an illustration shows a-spherical mine, in vertical section according to the present invention and Figs. 2 and 3 showdotails on a larger scale.

1 is the outer casing of the mine, said casing being suitablybf spherical or cylindrical shape and provided-at the top with a cover 2. In said cover is placed a hydrostatic apparatus, which may be of any type preferre but which on the drawing is of the known type used in the Whitehead'torpedo. The apparatus is thus provided with Specification of Letters Patent.

:from the outside.

Patented Dec. 8, i914.

. a hydrostatic plate or piston 3, on the outside covered by a rubber plate 4: and on the a inside acutated upon by a spiral spring 5. Said spring, the so called depth controlling spring, can by means of a straining piece 6 be strained more or less according to the middling depth on which the mine is to be kept floating. The displacement of the straining piece 6 is effected by means of a rod 8, pivoted in loops on the spring-casing 7 the opposite end of said rod 8 being pivotally connected to a nut 9. Said nut can be moved up and down on a screw 10, turnably mounted in cover 2. The screw 10 can lie turned around'from the outside of the mine by means of a tool, \vhe'reat the nut 9 is moved in the one direction or other and the spring 5 by means of the rod 8 and the straining piece 6 is strained or expanded. The strain ofsaid spring 5 can be observed .The movement of the hydrostatic piston 'in the one direction or the other under influence of the outer water-pressure, or the spring-pressure, is transmitted to the piston valve 12 by means of a rod 11 mounted in a frame, said piston valve being movable in a valve box 13. Said piston valve 12 serves to control the admission of the compressed air used for the regulating of the depth of the-mine, The compressed air is inclosed under highpres'sure (for inst. 100 to 150 atm.) in a vessel 14, provided with a filling valve 15 for charging the vessel'from the outside of the mine and with a closing valve 16, by means of which the escape of the air from said vessel 14: can at will be controlled from the outside of the mine. The filling and closing valves may also suitably be of the types used in'the Whitehead torpedo.

From the vessel 14 the hi hly compressed air is conducted through t e tube ,17 to a pressure regulator 18' being likewise of known'construction. Said regulator is preferably placed so that it may be adjusted fromthe outside of the mine. In the pressure regulator the pressure of the air is lowered to apredetermined, constant amount,

for inst. 10' to 15 atm. whereupon it passes on farther through the pipe 19. This pipe.

branches off into two tubes-20 and 21, 15?

which tube'20 conducts to the valve box 13 and the, tube 21 leadsto another valve box ael'e ng a r lay-p st n va v 3, he function of which wil be described below.

3O lowermost position (Fig. 2), the air supply" 24 is a regulating vessel, which communicates with the water surrounding the mine partly by a tube 25, leading directly from the surface of the mine to the lower end of the regulating vessel and partly through tube 26, connecting the regulating vessel to the box 20 of the relay piston valve. Said box is in its turn by means of tube 27 incommunicationwith the water surrounding the mine. Tube 26 issues from a screw-neck on the upper end of the regulating vessel. In this neck there is screwed in a tube 28 extending intothe regulating vessel. The said tube can be turned around by means of a shifter, in order to extend more or less into.

the regulating vessel. Hereby the 'mouth of tube 26 is brought to project more or less' into the regulating vessel.

From the valve box 13 two tubes 29, 30 are extending, each connected to one end of the valve box 22. From the said box extends still another tube 31 communicating with a smallervessel 32, the so called intermediate vessel. I

The piston valve 12 has two valve-faces 33 and 34 and at each end a tighteningpiston. Betweensaid valve-faces and tightening-pistons the piston valve body is.

turned ed to form three smaller parts 35, 36, 37. When said piston'valve 12 is inits .tube 20 is in communication with tube 30 through the space surrounding the part 36, whereas tube 29 comunica'tes with the out- 7 let opening 38, through the space surround- .ing the part 35. At the opposite upper endposition (Fig. 3) tube 29 is in communication with the inlet tube 20, whereas tube 30 is in communication through the space'surrounding the part 37 with i the outlet 39.

-"The relay piston. valve 23 has likewise two Yvalve faces 40, 41 and two tightening pistons,

' valve. .,Between the mouths of tubes 21 and 27 in the relayf'piston valve box there is between which are'situated the turned off .parts- 42, 43, 44. The mouths of tubes 26 45 and 31- in the relay-piston valve box are both extending by;ineans of 'grooves45, 46, run ning in the length direction of, the piston lengthwise-runnlng from said mouths.

When the relay piston its end position,correspondingto the lowest position (Fig. 2) of the piston-valve 12, the

tube 21 communicatesthrough "the. space surrounding the part 44" with tiibe3l At with each other through thespa'c'e surround y I p .12 are in the middle position. The 1111118 fcontinues to sink, however, whereby the pis-' the same time tubes "26 and 27 communicate ing the part .42.

At the opposite end position, corresponding to the upperpos-iti n-of slide 12 (Fig.

'3) the communicationbetweenthe tube 21,

31 is'interrupted by one of the tightening The communication between the valve is moved tovalve-face 40. On the other hand, communication is established between the tubes 26 and 31 through the grooves 45, 47, 46 and the spaces surrounding the parts 43, 44.

The function of the mine is as followsz Previous to the throwing out or shooting off of the mine the air vessel 14 is filled with highly compressed air and the closing valve 16 is opened. The pressure regulator 18 is adjusted for a determined pressure and the depth regulating apparatus is adjusted for the desired middling depth. The highly compressed air then passes through tube 17 to the pressure regulator 18, in which the pressure is reduced, and air of reduced pressure is conducted through tube 19 and its branches 20 and 21. When the hydrostatic piston 3, now actuated upon by the pressure of the spring-5, occupies its'outmost position, the piston valve 12 is in its lowest posi-,

tion and the low-compressed air entering through tube 20 passes through the space surrounding the part 36 and further through tube 30 to the box 22 of the relay, piston valve moving same to the end position shown in F ig. 2. The opposite end of the' the space surrounding the part 42 of the relay piston valve and the space surrounding the part 44 between tubes21 and 31. The low-compressed air now passes from the tube 19 through the latter tubes'into the intermediate vessel -32,'filling it with air of the reduced pressure. This is thestate'of themine when -it strikes the surface of the water. As themine is beforehand weighed 01f toabout the same specific weight as the water, it begins immediately to sink until quite vsubmerged under the surface of the, water. Hereby the water rushes in through tube 25 to the regulating vessel 24, expelling air through the tubes 28 and26, the space surrounding the part 42 of therelay piston valve-and the tube 27. The displacement of the mine being thus decreased themine sinks still more. The hydrostatic'piston is therelby simultaneously pressedinwardowing to the increasedwater-pressure, and when the mine reaches the desired middling-depth, the hydrostatic plsto'n' and the valve piston ton is pressed still more inward and the piston -.valve.12 is raised, giving admission to the low-pressure air from the tube 20 through'the space surrounding the part 36 to the tube 29, while the tube 30 is connected with ,theoutlet opening 39 through the space Surrounding the part 37. The relay piston yalveis thereby put over to the opposite end pds'itibn 3). The communication from the intermediate vessel 32 to the tube 21 is thereby interrupted by one of the ti'g' teiii'ng pistons of therelay piston valve and 1; eyess'el is instead put in communication with the i egulating vessel24 through the tube 31, .the space surro ndi g the part 44, the groove 45 7, thespa'c'e surrounding the part 43 and the tubes 26, -and28, fllhe valve-face 40 now interrii' tsthe communication of the tube 26 with t e exterior of the mine throughthe i5 tube 27 The .low pressure air .inclosed in the intermediate vessel now rushes. over to the re 'ulatin'g vessel, sethat an equalizing of the pressure in both of these vessels takes iegulating vessel .is how expelled again through the tube 2 whereby the displacement of the mine is suddenly increased and consequently the-mine rises again toward the surface of he water. i When the minehasrisen so much, that the hydrostatic piston, actuated by the spring pressure, has returned toits outermost position, the position of the relay piston valve I (Fig. isagain reversed, whereby the wa- 30 teragainbe'gins to rush illinto the regulatingvessel 24, thereby expelling the air inelosjed in the said vessel through the tube21. At the same time the intermediatevessel is refilled with low-compressed air from the tube 21', On account of the pouring-in of water, the mine now begins to sink again 54 f mine .W .v obvi u ly. ,q itim .w swing around the predetermined middling depth position as long as thexpressurein the 40 a r ve e is fi ient y ig vWl n the e ry, the pressure in said vessel has gone dea to f r m is n t a eg ike up at the determined depth, but gra' sinks lower and lower, whereby the action ofthe mine ceases,

placed the mine and arranged in such.

a manner that the regulating vessel is i filled ,with air and simultaneously shutoff froiii the communication with the surroundns Water a te apr d erm ne time. ha

- passed s incethe laying out of the mine or since the pressure in the air supply vessel has been reduced to a certain amount,whereby the mine will rise to the surface aild be place. Apart of the. water flowing into thepfcthe incomingwater.

n el not bein lengthy a deep in too much water in the regulating vessel owing to friction or the like the parts of the mechanisms, thus causing the mine to sink too low', the tube 28 may, previous to 'the laying out of the mine, be so adjusted,-

that only a due part of the volume of the regualting vessel may be filled with water. The water can only rise somewhat above the '30 lower mouth'of said tube 28, as the air inolosed in the upper part of the Ves is compressed and soon, equalizes the pressure Should, however, the mine have taken in so ,much Water in Q5 the regulating vessel,-that the air admitted rorn the intermediate vessel 32 does not prove suflicie'nt to drivethe mine upagain, said mine will, however, not remain long in the deep. The low compressed air sur- 9'0 rounding the relay piston valve will namely gradually leak into the regulatin yesse whereby more. and more water wi l be exelled and the mine finally rises to the su'race. The leaking-in of air into the regu- Q5 lating vessel may also be advertently arranged "by letting low-compressed air constantl pour in t -rough a separate channel, provi ed with a small opening, said chancontrolled by ton valve. y this a greater surety is attained that the mine will .not make too diving. The exhaust-air from the relay piston, valve niay either be let out into a separate exhaustlvessel with log; safety-valve for expelling the air intd thewater, when a certain pressure has been reached in the exhaust vessel, or else the exhau'st air may be expelled directly to the L has 10f at he mine body; In the latter case themine body is preferably provided with a safety valve. r I

"lhe' exhaust air from the relay piston valve as well as from the regulating vessel ought to be conducted into the water in a finey ldivide d state, so as not to betray the presence of the mine in the water by large bubbles. For this purpose the air may also beconducted from the regulating vessel to a separate exhaust vessel, provided with a plurality of apertures for letting out the air, or else the mouth of the tube 27 may be widened and covered with a metal sheeting, through which a plurality of holes have been bored.

It is obvious that the details may be varied in many ways if only the essential of the invention is maintained, 5. e. that the increase of the displacement of the mine, in order to endow the same with the necessary 130 h e y ipisrising power is caused by a sudden supply of a predetermined volume of compressed air or gas in the regulating vessel. The volume and the pressure in the intermediate 'vessel is evidently to be adjusted in sucha manner, that the determined volume of air supplied to the regulating vessel is just enough,'to give the mine a powerful impulse upward without, however, driving the same too far beyond the desired ,mid-

' 1. A floating'mine comprising in combination, a regulating vessel, a pressure vessel, an intermediate vessel, connections and valve means for leading air from'said pressure vessel to said regulatingvessel through said intermediate-vessel, and automatic hydrostatic means for controlling the action of said valve means, said valve meanspand said automatic means beingso arranged'as to connectlsaid pressure vessel with saidi intermediate vessel when the mine is above a certain depth and to connect said intermediate vessel with said regulating .vessel' when the mine is below a certain. depth, and being arranged also to cut off said intermediate. vessel from said pressure vessel at'the time the intermediate vessel is nected to the regulating vessel.' 7

-A floating mine comprising in combination, a regulating vesse I sel, an intermediate vessel, connections and valve, means forleading' air from said pressure vessel to 'saidvregul'ating vessel through a said intermediate vessel,- and automatic hydrostatic means for controlling the action of.

said valve means, saidvalve means andsaidi' automatic means being so arranged as to connect said pressure vessel with said lntermediate vessel when themine is above a certain depth and to connect said'intermediate vesselv with saidregulating vessel when the mineris below a certaindepth, said valve means including a rapidly/"actuated {piston-1 valve for controlling the inlet and outlet of aijrefromsaid intermediatelvessel, and being arranged alsoito cut oflt'lsaid intermediate vessel fromsaidpressure,vessel at the time the intermediate vessel -is' connected to the regulating'vessel, U 3;;A floating minevc'omprising "in combination, a regulating vessel, 'a "pressure vessel, an intermediate vessel, connections-and valve means for leading air from saidfpressure vessel to said regulating vessel through,

a pressure. ves- I p I nation, a regulating vessel, a pressure vessel,

said intermediate vessel, and'automatic hye drostatic means for controlling the action of said valve means, said valve means and said automatic means being so arranged as to connect said pressure vessel with said intermediate vessel when the mine is above a certain depth and to connect said intermediate vessel with said regulating vessel when the mine is below a certain depth, said valve means including a rapidly actuated piston valve for controlling the inlet and outlet of air from said intermediate vessel, said piston valve controlling also the said regulating vessel, and being arranged'also to cut oil said intermediate vessel from said pressure vessel at the time the intermediate vessel is connected to the regulating vessel.

4. A floating mine comprising in combination, a regulating vessel, a pressure vessel, an intermediate vessel, connections and valve means for leading air from said pressure vessel to said regulating vesselthrough said intermediate vessel, and automatic hydrostatic means for controlling the action of said valve means, said valve means and said automatic means being so arranged as to connect said pressure vessel with said intermediate vessel. when the mine is above a certain depth and to connect said intermediate vessel with said regulating vessel .when the mine is below a certain depth,

and being arranged also to vcut 03 said intermediate vessel from said pressure vessel at the time the intermediate vessel is con--v nected to the regulating vessel, said valve means including a rapidly actuated piston valvefor controlling the inlet and outlet of ir to said piston valve for. moving the same. a

5'. A.- floating mine comprising in combian intermediate vessel, connections and valve means for leading air' from said pressure a vessel to said regulating vessel through said; intermediate vessel, and automatic hydro-- static means for controlling the action of Y air from said intermediate vessel, and means for applying compressed a said valve'means, said valve means and said automatic'means being so arranged as to connectsaid pressure vessel wlthsald intermediate vessel when the mine is above a certain depth and to connect said intermediate vessel with said regulating vessel when I the mine is below a certain depth, and being arranged also to cut ofi said. intermed ate vessel fromsaid' pressure vessel at the time the intermediate vessel is connected to'the regulating vessel, said valve means including a rapidlyactuated piston valve for controlling the inlet and outlet of air (from said intermediate vessel, and means ,for applying compressed air to said piston valve for comprising a second piston valve x 6, Afioatmg ,nune comprlsing 1n QOmbI movingthe' same, saidlast mentioned means nation, a regulating vessel, a pressure vessel,

an intermediate vessel, connections and valve means for leading a1r from sald pressure valve to said regulating vessel through said intermediate vessel, and automatic hydrostatic means for controlling the action of sald valve means, sald valve means and said automatic means being so arranged as to connect said pressure vessel with said intermediate vessel when the mine 'is above a. certain depth and to eonnect said interme-. diate vessel with said regulating vesselwhen the mine is below a certain depth; andbeing arranged also to vcut ofi said intermediate vessel from said pressure vessel at the time the intermediate vessel is'connected to the regulating vessel, said valve means including a piston valve device having a casing anda valve therein provided with two end pistonsand two intermediate pistons, there being spaces between the two pistons and grooves in said casmg for passing air longitudinally thereof. I c

7. A floating mine comprising in combination, a regulating vessel, a pressure'vessel, an intermedlate vessel,- connect1ons and valve means for leading air from said pressure vessel to said regulating vessel through i low acertain depth, and being arranged also 1 to cut ofi said intermediate vessel from said pressure vessel at the time the intermediate vessel is connected to the regulating vessel, and a pressure regulator inserted in the connection between the pressure vessel and the intermediate vessel in order that gas of a certain predetermined reduced pressure may be supplied to'the intermediate vessel.

In testimony whereof I have affixed signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GUNNAR LINDMARK.'

Witnesses:

HANS HORSTMAN, .B. HATENFELD'I. 

